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The three-man independent screening panel charged with winnowing the state comptrollerÂ field to five met this morning in New York City.

Some expect the panel’s selections to be made public as early as today, which would mean the 212-member Legislature could vote as early as next week.

With Spitzer’s announcement this morning that he has tapped Assemblyman Alexander “Pete” Grannis, D-Manhattan, to be DEC commissioner, the number of legislators in the running for comptroller has been reduced to four.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, has made it clear that he wants one of his own members to be the next comptroller.

Spitzer has made it clear (although not publicly so much in recent weeks) he wants anyone BUT a legislator to be the next comptroller.

It’s possible that theÂ screening panel could send the Legislature a list that includesÂ no legislators on it. ButÂ if that happens, all bets could be off.

The bottom line is that constitutionally speaking, the Legislature is responsible for picking the next comptroller, and since the Legislature includes more Democrats than Republicans, the decision will be controlled by Silver and hisÂ majority colleagues.

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